Karnataka, Jul 9: Jagadish Shettar, the Lingayat community leader, will be formally elected as the chief minister of the state today replacing DV Sadananda Gowda.

Senior BJP leaders, Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh are expected to be here to oversee the election of Jagadish Shettar as the new Chief Minister formally.

According to reports, Sadananda Gowda is likely to be given a Rajya Sabha seat or will be made the unit president.

Shettar was made the Chief Minister on the insistence of BS Yeddyurappa, who wanted Sadananda Gowda to be replaced.

The BJP on Sunday asked Sadananda Gowda to resign as the CM. Gowda is likely to submit his resignation by Wednesday to Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj.

“In view of the current political situation in Karnataka, Sadananda Gowda has handed over his resignation to me. In his tenure, he did good work and the performance of our government was very good.

“There were no complaints against him on grounds of corruption but keeping the party’s interest in mind, as a good party worker, he has resigned,” said BJP Party President, Nitin Gadkari to reporters in New Delhi.